Jamaica's Version of 'Deal or No Deal' game show premiers on September 23.

by Wellesley
(Montego Bay, Jamaica)

Jamaica Observer, 9/17/2009:

Digicel on Tuesday evening unveiled its Deal or No Deal game show which will premiere on Television Jamaica on Wednesday, September 26 at 8:00 pm.

Described as part-game show, part psychological-thriller, Digicel Deal or No Deal is described as the ultimate stomach-knotting test of nerves.

Hosted by Simon Crosskill, Digicel Deal or No Deal is an exhilarating game show where contestants play and deal for a top prize of $1 million in a high-energy contest of nerves, instincts and raw intuition.

Each week, the game of odds and chance unfolds when a contestant is confronted with 26 Jamaican beauties holding 26 sealed briefcases full of varying amounts of cash - ranging from a measly $1 to a whopping $1 million.

Without knowing the amount in each briefcase, the contestant picks one - his/hers to keep, if he/she chooses - until its unsealing at game's end.

The risk element kicks in when the player must then instinctively eliminate the remaining 25 cases, which are opened and the amount of cash inside revealed.

The pressure mounts in each round, after a pre-determined number of cases are opened, the participant is tempted by a mysterious entity known only as The Banker to accept an offer of cash in exchange for what might be contained in the contestant's chosen briefcase - prompting Simon to ask the all-important question - Deal or No Deal?

The Digicel Deal or No Deal Banker is the unseen, unheard antagonist on the game show. After each round, The Banker speaks to the host Simon Crosskill via Digicel Blackberry Smartphones on the contestant's desk.

The money on the money tree is held by the Banker. As such, his role is to make cash offers to buy the contestant's chosen case rather than allowing them to continue and risk them winning much more.

As each case is opened, the likelihood of the player having a valuable cash amount in his or her own case decreases or increases. Viewers will see if, truly, fortune favours the bold.

The contestant knows that as long as the larger cash prizes haven't been opened, The Banker's deals will only get higher. And if the conflicted contestant accidentally opens a case with a bigger cash value - The Banker's offer could suddenly evaporate.

The success of Digicel Deal or No Deal can be narrowed down to one essential element: the Contestants. Win or lose, it's the players who are the stars and will keep audiences tuning in again and again.

Some will be reckless, some intuitive, some just plain lucky, but everyone will have a different method and a different story. With such large sums of money at stake, Digicel Deal or No Deal can be a life-changing experience.

According to general manager of TVJ, Kay Osborne, "TVJ is pleased to be a partner in bringing the Digicel Deal or No Deal series to local television screens. We are delighted to provide Jamaican families with another solid hour of fun and entertainment each week during this difficult period."

With Digicel Deal or No Deal viewers at home will also have a chance of winning cash by playing the Lucky Case Game. In this game there are 3 cases: A, B & C each randomly containing a cash value: $5,000, $25,000 and $100,000.

At the end of each show, starting at 9 pm, viewers will be able to text to enter as many times as they like, for six days, for a chance to win one of these cash prizes (Entry closes at midnight on Tuesdays).

A winner will be randomly selected every Wednesday morning and the selected winner will have to tune in to the show that night on TVJ to see how much cash they have won.

Near the start of each show on a Wednesday night, Simon asks that episode's participating contestant to select a case A, B or C, as carried by three of the show's models. This case will be revealed and show how much cash the selected winner has won.

The aim of Digicel Deal or No Deal is to give contestants a chance to win a whopping $1 million while at the same time providing quality entertainment to the viewing audience.

A mix of skill and chance, the original show, produced by Endemol, premiered on Dutch TV in 2001 and had audiences gripped from the start.

Word quickly spread around the world about this TV sensation and soon the game was off to Australian TV, where it first became known as Deal or No Deal.

Now in 2009 Deal or No Deal is a hit in over 100 countries from Asia to the Middle East.

Among the sponsors for the Digicel Deal or No Deal game show are the Jamaica Observer, WISYNCO, TVJ and ATL.

About The Author

A patriotic Jamaican who adores his culture, Wellesley has been using this medium to share what he calls 'the uniqueness of Jamaica with the world' - since April 2007.

To date, he serves over 8,300 unique readers / viewers per day.

His efforts have earned him featured positions in local publications, including the Jamaica Gleaner's Hospitality Jamaica, Carlong Publishers, as well as recognition from numerous prestigious international agencies and universities.